Lower resting heart rate = Lower death rate

How's your resting heart rate? The lower the better. See below:
"Prof. John Camm (London, UK) reviewed the current evidence linking lower resting heart rate to improved survival. In the general population, several studies have shown a strong positive correlation between higher resting HR and increased mortality with a two- to three-fold increase in men for a HR >88 bpm compared to a HR of < 65 bpm. These data have been confirmed by many studies, including the recent MATISS study. The relation is less strong, though still present, in women. HR affects all cause mortality, and further analysis shows that this is not only through an effect on cardiovascular mortality but may also include death from other causes such as cancer. In addition to resting heart rate, reduced dynamic response of HR is an important predictor as well, i.e. the lack of a chronotropic response to exercise and slow recovery of HR following exercise. In addition to these large studies in the general population, studies in patient subgroups also confirm the predictive value of HR for outcome, e.g. in patients post-myocardial infarction.
One possible explanation of the relation between low heart rate and life expectancy comes from the observations of Levine who proposed that all mammals have a maximum number of heartbeats that limit life expectancy. This hypothesis is based on the direct relation between lifespan and heart rate in a range of animals from mouse to whale."

To obtain a resting HR of 50, one has to work out maybe an hour a day, otherwise it would be up around 70.
This lends itself to a math problem whereby one calculates the break even point for time spent working out versus reduction in resting HR.

Good question. Apparently this is not guaranteed as your own testimony shows. However, 50 in absolute terms may not be achievable but in relative terms I would say that your resting HR is lower than it would be if you didn't work out. It may also be that your level of effort is not high enough to solicit a larger decrease. As a bike racer, I'm somewhat surrounded by people who are fit to the extreme so my view may be somewhat parochial as far as a HR of 50 goes. Most of my cycling buddies have HRs in the 40s, myself included. The question can be raised
"is it the training that solicits such a low resting HR or is it a person's predisposition for a low HR (a naturally higher cardiac output)
that makes them gravitate towards endurance sports?

I also work out more than one hour a day, my resting pulse is around
60. Genetics must play a role. Also, there is a big variation in how different people respond to aerobic training. To further improve, I'm trying to workout at nearly my max heart rate (170) three times a week. I've read that quality of workout is more important than quantity. I'm not aware of studies proving that exercise increases lifespan, but it definitly effects quality of life.

Success makes you gravitate toward certain sports.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970827.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.

I know you were only joking but here's the math.
One hour at 150 + 23 hours at 50 = 1300
24 hours at 70 = 1680.
Not that I subscribe to this theory but I don't want there to be any more reasons for being a couch potato.

The ability to sustain a high aerobic output for several hours. Anyone who becomes a Category 2 or above USCF road racer is not only very fit but can crank out some serious wattage. Whether this is healthy in the long is another question entirely.

I don't see how this is any different. Success being a factor of ones natural pysiological potential.

If this is true, then someone who exercises a great deal , and frequently get's in their target heart rate zone is shortening their life... I guess we all better sit around and relax

Now the way I read that is that someone named Levine stated that mammals have a max number of heartbeats that limit life expectancy.......

I then made that statement that a great deal of cardio exercise where you get your heart rate elevated for long periods of time ( which I do ) would then shorten your life expectancy. I don't think my reply to the above statement is complicated or difficult to understand?????
Maybe that's just me

I work out almost an hour a day and have for years. My resting heart rate is not 50. Where are you getting these numbers from and are they guaranteed?

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970827.html
Lift well, Eat less, Walk fast, Live long.